What Peter said at Caesarea Philippi

An online Bible Study course by Barrie Wetherill about
the life of Jesus. This book is in EasyEnglish Level B. Use the links
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Matthew 16:13-28

A very important conversation

A very important conversation happened about this time. The
*disciples had been with Jesus for some time. They had seen his *miracles. They
had heard him teach. They had seen the great love and care that he always
showed. They were near Caesarea Philippi.

Then, Jesus asked his *disciples this question:

·Who did people say that Jesus was?

The *disciples replied with many answers:

·Some people thought that John the Baptist had become alive again.
These people guessed that Jesus was really John.

·Some people thought that Jesus was perhaps Elijah or one of the
prophets.

·But Peter said this:

Matthew 16:16 Simon
Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’.

Jesus is the *Messiah and the son of God

This was a wonderful answer. 'Christ' means the same as
*Messiah. Peter realised that Jesus was the son of God.

Jesus had an explanation for what Peter had said. The *disciples
could only say this because God had told them. God had helped them to believe in
Jesus.

Jesus speaks about his death

Immediately Jesus started to teach his disciples that he must go
to Jerusalem. There, men would attack him and kill
him. The Jews did not think
that this should happen to a *Messiah. The *disciples could not understand it.
Peter even blamed Christ for saying it! Jesus tried many times to tell the
*disciples what would happen at Jerusalem. He tried to tell them that he would
die on the *cross. Then he would become alive again. They did not understand until
afterwards. The actual events were a great shock to them.

This conversation was an important event in Jesus *ministry.
Afterwards, Jesus prepared to go to the *cross. Soon, he would leave Galilee,
and start his last journey to
Jerusalem.